I don’t know about you, but I need you to drop everything and start reading this book ASAP. I need y’all to share my pain and suffering after I finished this amazing fantasy book. Because the stress that I feel after that cliffhanger is unbearable. I need the next book in the series ASAP, literally. Let’s start in the beginning.

Lyra has always hidden her true identity. It’s never good to catch the attention of a magic-obsessed king of Stonegate. Unfortunately, Lyra's identity becomes compromised, and she becomes the next melder of Stonegate. It doesn’t help that Lyra has to deal with Roark, the prince’s silent guard. Roark may be broody and silent, but there is definitely more than meets the eye, especially when Lyra and Roark constantly argue with each other. As Lyra spends more time in Stonegate, she discovers that something awful is happening. Lyra doesn’t have many allies, but she trusts that she can trust Roark about her intuition.

I don’t care what you say, but enemies to lovers always hit when it’s written in a fantasy book. It just gives the character so much more than their mission. Lyra and Roark’s tension between each other is so good that I can’t wait for one of them to say ‘fuck it.’ It’s the best part when the enemies do become lovers. And Lyra and Roark becoming more is so bittersweet. Why? Because there is a big secret that both of them are hiding. I won’t say anything more; just expect pain toward the end. Endless pain until we get the second book.

This is a phenomenal 5 ⭐ read that I already want to reread! LJ Andrews is amazing at creating an addicting world and I want more ASAP! The story is rich in lore and history surrounding Vikings and this specific magic. Though the world building did drag a bit, it lead up to an explosive, character driven plot.

Lyra hides her magic so well, but less so her emotions. I love how strong she is and how hard she will fight for her family. She is fearless and determined to survive. Her bodyguard, Roark is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. So much hidden within him. He is so possessive and protective that I can't help but swoon every time he interacted with Lyra.

The ending was so action packed and left me so mad I don't have the next one ASAP. This is the perfect setup to a sequel that surely will not disappoint.

Fav Quote: "You never truly know a heart until you see he darkness inside. I might like to see yours."

🦴 Enemies to Lovers
🦴 Sign Language Rep
🦴 Body guard / Forced Proximity
🦴 Unique magic system
🦴 Touch her and d!e

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, Ace Books & Netgalley for an eARC of Broken Souls and Bones for review.

This book has so much to love- found family, captor/bodyguard, sign language rep, intricate world building, unique magic system, morally grey MMC, and dual POV.

LJ always brings such depth to her characters and writes a phenomenal cast and this was no different! I especially enjoyed Roark and Lyra, and their tension filled moments. The intimacy in the hand speak was so beautiful and sensual, I loved it!

There were a few things I struggled with. While I loved the intricate world building, it sometimes became difficult to keep track of all the elements and I had to reread some portions. I also felt like the penultimate twist could have benefited from a few more breadcrumbs. The shock was enjoyable but left me with quite a few questions and came a bit out of left field.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing where the series goes! I can’t wait to learn more about Roark and his backstory and see where their adventure goes next! Thank you so much to LJ, Ace Books, and NetGalley for an ARC!

This book absolutely hooked me. The Viking-inspired world, the intense slow-burn romance, and that magic system? Incredible. Roark and Lyra’s dynamic was everything I wanted: tension, banter, feelings. Some twists were predictable but honestly, I didn’t care. The vibes? Immaculate. I already know I’m reading the sequel.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this early digital copy!

I really really wanted to like this one and maybe I would’ve if I wasn’t reading another book at the same time, but it just fell flat for me.

I DNF at 35% because I found the magic system confusing and the pacing very slow.

However, I may pick this one back up in the future because a friend of mine said the ending is fantastic.

I think the pacing just needed to be quicker to grab the readers attention more.

Unfortunately this ended up being a DNF for me. I feel like I read the same romantasy plot three times over and I never really understand in any of them why the MMC is such a jerk. I get enemies to lovers but if you just make him a butthead, I'm not going to cheer for them to get together.

Broken Souls and Bones
Author: L. J. Andrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶

Gorgeous, mute, and good with his hands? Sign me up!!!
L. J. Andrews has added another delicious book boyfriend to the list of favorite MMCs!

What an epic adventure into a world of vikings with a unique magic system. So many great characters bring the story to life.

And talk about plot twists and cliffhangers!
—-------------------------------------------------------
When you hit him in the face with a plum and then he claims you as his….

‘To claim something as his— a strike, a kill, a horn of ale— Ashwood tapped whatever he wanted three times.

The Sentry placed his palm against my cheek. I stiffened, eyes closed. But all he did was tap my face three times.

“It meant “mine”.’
—-------------------------------------------------------
The melder was my find; if anyone were to ruin her, the right belonged to me.
—-------------------------------------------------------
“You brighten the dark, Melder.”
—-------------------------------------------------------
A scarred male Sentry who doesn't speak with words. An orphaned female hiding her magic and silver scars.

Lyra's rare melder magic is forbidden. After losing her family and her memories, Lyra has a peaceful place to live with people she considers family. People who have hidden her, the long lost female melder. And although she has never used her magic, she is hunted....by him.

When the king's melder is murdered, Sentry Roark Ashwood, The Death Bringer, is sent to find the long lost female melder. And when he does finally find her, she throws plums in his face.

Neither of them expected to be drawn to one another. And when they are forced to remain close to each other, lost memories for them both begin to resurface.

But when Lyra is forced by the king to use her magic, she finds herself connected to something even more dangerous than Roark.

When memories return, secrets are discovered, and identities are revealed, Roark and Lyra are forced to run. But do they run from each other?

-Mute MMC who is good with his hands
-Innocent FMC who would do
anything to protect those she loves
-Dark and dangerous entity who speaks in riddles
-Vikings
-Captor/Captee
-Forced Proximity
-Magic
-Bonds
-Orphans
-Unbreakable friendships
-Secret Identities
-Plot twists
-Ends on a cliffhanger

Broken Souls and Bones was my first L.J. Andrews read, and I’m so glad it was my introduction to her work—I can confidently say it won’t be my last. This story pulled me in with its Viking-inspired worldbuilding and a truly original magic system centered around “craft,” which is divided into bone, blood, and soul. It took a bit of time (and a chapter re-read or two!) to fully wrap my head around the mechanics, but once I did, I was completely hooked. It’s not often I come across a magic system that feels this fresh and inventive.

Andrews’ writing is immersive and well-balanced. The descriptions painted vivid imagery without slowing the pacing. I felt fully transported but never bogged down—exactly how I like my fantasy reads.

Now, let’s talk about Lyra. She’s a protagonist who stuck with me—haunted by a hidden past, terrified of discovery, and yet so strong in her vulnerability. Forced into servitude as a melder (a wielder of all three crafts), Lyra finds herself under the protection of Roark, and oh my gods, Roark. He’s mysterious, fiercely protective, and communicates through his own sign language—which added depth to his character and brought a beautiful layer of quiet strength to the story. He’s now on my ever-growing list of favorite MMCs.

The romance? A slow burn that almost drove me mad—in the best possible way. Normally I’m not a fan of slow burns (or maybe I am, judging by how strongly I react every time!), but Andrews had me fully invested in their tension and emotional connection.

No spoilers, but be warned: this book ends on a cliffhanger—and I’m already counting the days until the next book drops. If you’re a fan of atmospheric fantasy, compelling characters, and just the right amount of emotional torture (looking at you, Roark), Broken Souls and Bones needs to be on your radar.

This book. This book. I genuinely have no words—because it devoured me. I didn’t just read it; it consumed me whole. LJ Andrews’ writing has always left me in awe, but Broken Souls and Bones? It’s on another level. Her storytelling doesn’t just make you feel—it makes you live every moment. And this story? It wrecked me in the best possible way.

I had the privilege of both reading the ARC and listening to the audiobook, and I highly recommend doing both if you can. The dual POV format was masterfully done, and the narration? Absolutely magical. The voice actor for Roark—who I loved from The Ever Seas—completely brought him to life. His performance let me become Roark: I felt what he felt, saw what he saw. It’s been a long time since an audiobook made me feel this immersed, this emotionally in sync with the characters.

And let’s talk about Roark. A non-speaking main character? That’s no easy feat—but LJ pulls it off with breathtaking brilliance. The way she portrays his thoughts, emotions, and relationships without dialogue is pure sorcery. She gives voice to a silent character in a way that’s both powerful and deeply moving.

The worldbuilding is another standout. LJ crafts a richly detailed universe infused with Norse mythology—but it’s not just a retelling. It’s fresh, unique, and full of life. I can confidently say: I’m in my Viking era now, and I’m not leaving anytime soon. The familiar tropes we love are here—true enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, a unique magic system—but they’re delivered in a way that feels anything but overdone.

From beginning to end, this book was absolutely phenomenal. And that ending? It shattered me. I stared at the wall, jaw dropped, brain thoroughly melted. I wish I hadn’t devoured it so quickly because now I don’t know what to do with myself.

LJ, thank you for creating this masterpiece. Broken Souls and Bones is everything—and I need more. Immediately. All I can say is… TAP TAP TAP.

Thank you ACE books and Berkeley for a gifted copy of this book. This is my honest review.

LJ Andrews has officially sucked me into another Viking inspired romantasy 😍
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV
- Forced Proximity
- Bodyguard
- Unique magic system
I loved the magic in this book. It’s based on bone melding/mending and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it.
Of course the romance is top notch as well. Thera just so much yearning, tension and passion. Lyra and Roark just make so much sense together ❤️
I do wish that there was more to the plot but it definitely ramped up in the back half. But at this point I know that you half to do a lot of world building at the start of the series.
I just can’t wait for book 2! The plot twist/cliffhanger left me with so many questions and left so much potential for the next book.

I have been a LJ Andrews fan - especially when it comes to her Ever Seas series - for awhile and so the idea of reading her new series was super exciting. I was not disappointed in the slightest - super impressed with the new world that she has crafted and the new characters that she has brought to life.

Overall tropes:
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Slow-burn
- Forced Proximity
- Viking/norse vibes
- Found Family
- Complex magic systems
- "Touch her and"/ "Mine"

I would absolutely recommend this book, but I have some overall (non-spoilers) thoughts/tips:

- Like many first books in a series, it does take some time to get into the magic systems, the politics, the characters, etc. I will say that the first 1/3 of the book was an initial bumpy ride as I needed to take in the different levels of magic and the hierarchy of the characters. BUT - this book became un-put-downable as I neared the 35% mark and it slowly started to come together. If you are a novice romantasy reader, please read with patience and don't let the worlds deter you. I also believe that the printed version will have a map which may be helpful as far as visually placing things (I read the eARC which didn't have it included).

- There were some great elements from some of my other favorite series that were aligned with this book. If you love the Shepherd King Series (One Dark Window/Two Twisted Crowns), I think you will especially love this book as their are elements of dark energy/monsters that harken to that story. I also adore that the MMC uses handspeak - similar to Charissa Weaks' Witch Walker series. For clarity - I'm not saying that this book is like those books/series in any way, but if you do like those series, I would say that this might be a good read especially for you. I know I adore those series and because of them, I was able to enjoy the different elements in this book more easily.

- In true LJ Andrews fashion, the characters and their personalities are all wonderful. When LJ Andrews writes a world and creates these characters, she does it with such love and tenderness. You can feel that she loves these characters as much as we, the readers, do. No character is wasted. The MMC and FMC are both great and the secondary characters all have their own personalities and quirks.

- I will need to re-read the beginning again but one thing I did feel that was missing was the visualization of the characters as far as what they looked like. It might be in the beginning and I just missed it as there was a lot of world building/magic system information being placed up front, but just an initial thoughts (will update once I re-read if there is more detail that I initially missed).

I know that this book will be a part of a series so I'm excited to read the second book now that some of the initial world building has been tackled in this book. Overall, an amazing first book and can't wait to re-read and patiently wait for book 2!

Special thanks to LJ Andrews, her team and the publishers for the opportunity to review and for the e-ARC.

I love a good Nordic romantasy, so I was excited to read Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews. Mood and tone-wise, it feels very similar to The Ever King by the same author, but swap pirates for Vikings.

The magic system and the sign language rep in this book were two of my favorite parts. It's a story where danger truly closes in from all sides, and the jarl in power is cruel and unpredictable. The MMC is broody, strong, and mysterious, and the FMC is brave and loyal. This one has a great cast of supporting characters, too!

If I had a criticism, it would be that some of the plot felt a bit disjointed almost, and I felt like some of the flow or reveals could've been more smooth. Having said that though, I found it easy and enjoyable to read, and I will definitely be planning to read the sequel.

Man, when I look at all the glowing reviews this book has on Goodreads, I feel like I read a different book. I was not at all captivated by the setting, the characters, the relationships, or the conflict.

The story started off promising enough, but pretty quickly became lackluster. I didn't buy that Roark and Lyla so quickly decided to like each other - it never felt earned. The world didn't feel fleshed out enough, especially after just reading 'A Fate Inked in Blood' by Danielle L Jensen which does Norse mythology so well.

More than anything, the feeling I got after finishing this book was just confusion. The magic system made no sense to me - I don't understand the difference between the 3 types, the consequences, anything. It was never explained well, and so much of the story hinges on that, so this isn't one of those times when I can set that lack of understanding aside for love of the plot or characters. Not even the twist at the end could save it for me. I was already too confused to decide if it worked or not. I don't think this is a series I will be finishing, unfortunately.

Tap. Tap. Tap. FIVE STARS! First off, I absolutely love the signing representation. This book was amazing. The world building was top notch. I loved Lyra’s character and the found family trope. Roark and his morally grey traits were perfection. Lyra and Kael’s friendship is the sweetest. Thane!! Amazing side characters. The magic in this book was so unique and interesting to me. I wish May wasn’t so crazy so I could have had more time to read this book and not take 3 weeks. LJ Andrew’s does it again. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Pub for the arc.

WOW!!! Vikings and romantasy are such a great mix!

This book is a must read!! I am a huge LJ Andrews fan and to no surprise I am an even bigger fan after reading this book!!!

The tension, secrets, plot twists, forbidden romance, unique magic all has me in a chokehold and in dire need of the next book!!!

Also that ending has me crazed right now😭 I need book 2 ASAP!

Quick Thoughts Reviews

📖 what’s a letter that starts with W E D N E S D A or Y that describes your day so far? For me, it’s struggling, as in, struggling to figure out what to wear 🤣. I have changed my outfit three times & I’m about to go back for a fourth.

🌼 Broken Souls & Bones has a lot of potential on the romance front: forbidden attraction, betrayal, secrets. The fantasy parts, though, are a bit hard for me to follow. Still, if you’re in the mood for a solid introductory book with 🔥& a cliffie, you might want to read this one. 4 ⭐️, out 04/29. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🌼 A Drop of Corruption (part of the Ana & Din series) is book 2 of a Sherlock Holmes re-telling with a whip-smart, mysteriously augmented Sherlock & a Watson who’s both part & not-part of it all. This series is fantastic, you all. The mystery & the character development are there; a perfect combo. 5 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🌼 A Fate Forged in Fire has a secret princess heroine with a temper, a marriage of convenience, & dragons! The vibes in this one skew a bit too dark for my taste, but this will make a super satisfying fantasy for someone! The tension between leads is a big part of their dynamic. 3.5 ⭐️, out 05/27. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

i gave this one a good try, but unfortunately it was just not for me. i found the magic system overly complex and under explained, and the plot was not intriguing enough to hold my attention. i also think this book really could have benefited from a glossary to explain common viking/nordic terminology, as every reference had me pausing to look up what things meant. i am a newby to viking lore though, so this might specifically be a me problem.

while it is quite obvious l.j. andrew is a great writer and held in very high regard in the book community, there was something about the writing style that just didn’t do it for me. i felt super detached from the characters, and honestly didn’t find them very likeable. i struggled to stay engaged and found myself putting it down every 10 pages or so. i told myself that if i take breaks i might be able to finish, but that ended up not being the case. this is the kind of story i typically truly enjoy and i tried so hard to love it, but if a book ends up feeling like a chore for me, i must dnf.

while this wasn’t right for me personally, i think others will (and i have!) really like this one.

it feels wrong rating a dnf, so i will give it three stars for the notoriety of the author and the potential this book has.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and I have to say, I’m both surprised and disappointed by this. The last 25% definitely took me by surprise and drew me back in enough to continue the series, but I do hope it takes a turn from here.

Let’s start with the good: LJ Andrews writes KILLER romantic tension and chemistry, and I think she nailed that piece in this one. I enjoyed both characters as people, and found something valuable and surprising in having both of their POV’s. I loved the side characters, especially the Prince, and also found the magic and world to be wildly unique. There’s a lot to love from this stuff alone.

I think where things got lost for me was with the plot. Having finished the book, I do see WHY things felt this way… but it was just so, so repetitive. I absolutely could not figure out whether the plot was actually moving forward or not, and in what way. Again, there are things about this that make sense in retrospect, but it didn’t make for the most exciting reading experience. I found myself accidentally skimming at times, and needing to go back and read again just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything important.

All this said, I think the world we’ve built and the magic system that’s been explored by the last bit of the story have a ton of potential, and hoping the plot reallt raes off in the next book. the last 25ish percent really grabbed my attention, and reminded me of what I enjoyed so much about Andrews’ Ever Seas series. I think there might have just been some dry world building and setup being done in this book, but I look forward to continuing regardless.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eArc!

**Review (Chaotic & Feral):**

HELLO??? WHY IS MY HEART IN FLAMES AND MY SANITY IN A DITCH??

This book *grabbed me by the throat*, kissed me gently on the forehead, and then threw me off a cliff made of angst, banter, and **feral magical yearning**. LJ ANDREWS, YOU MENACE. You took a silent assassin boy (Roark, you emotionally constipated legend) and a girl with silver-scarred eyeballs and said, “Yeah. Let’s *ruin* people.”

Lyra didn’t want the spotlight, but guess what? DESTINY SAID “GET UP GIRL, TIME TO BE ICONIC.” She’s snatched up by Mr. Murderous Broody Bodyguard who absolutely does *not* talk unless it’s to set your soul on fire with three words and a jaw twitch. Is this healthy? No. Do I want it? Yes. Inject it.

The romance? A *slow burn inferno* that made me want to chew drywall and scream into the void. The magic system? Makes you feel like you’re melting into gold and rage. The stakes? High. The vibes? Immaculate. Betrayals, yearning, power struggles, *touch-starved intensity*—I AM NOT OKAY.

Final thoughts: if you want to be emotionally flayed alive by morally gray knife boys and girls who set empires ablaze just by existing, then run—**don’t walk**—into this book with your entire chest.

10/10 feral stares. Would sell my soul to be a melder for Roark Ashwood. Is that healthy? WHO CARES.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲:🌶️🌶️

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 5/5
𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: 5/5
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 4/5
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: Series (Book #1 of ?)
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲: Dual POV
𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲: Cliffhanger


“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅? 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕”

💙Enemies to Lovers
🦴Found Family
💙Touch Her and Die
🦴Court Intrigue
💙Unique Magic System
🦴Sign Language Rep
💙Soulmates
🦴Hidden Identity

L.J. has left me… well, if I’m being honest, I have no idea what I’m feeling 😅.

Gods, every time I dive into a new L.J. Andrews book, the real world gets put on ✨pause✨

I absolutely loved Roark and Lyra, and like any L.J. novel, you can’t help but get attached to the secondary characters too. Kael is a cinnamon roll for the ages, and I have a not-so-secret hope that we’ll see him meet his perfect match.

Actually, you know what? I just want happy endings for all of them—Emi, Yrsa, Thane… the whole kit and caboodle.

SPOILER AHEAD

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I mean it guys….

🦴

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Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I had my suspicions that Skul Drek and Roark were one and the same, so I guess I was both right and wrong 😅😆. I also had a feeling there was more to his background—because why would a prince go out of his way to help save someone his entire people want dead?

I hated King Damir, but I loved how he was written. You know he’s the villain from the start, but he eases into it in this almost slimy way. The queen coming out of left field at the end as an active participant? Did not see that coming. To no one’s surprise, I hate her already. Same goes for Baldur—he can sincerely find the deepest trench and take a nosedive.

Thane was giving me a less tortured Prince Dorian vibes, and I will never not be up for anything even remotely resembling Dorian Havilliard.

I loved Thane and Roark’s connection, especially the fact that it was Thane who made the effort to find a way for Roark to communicate through sign language.

Also, where does L.J. get her ideas for these worlds? Because she blows me away every time with settings and magic systems that feel completely unique.

In conclusion, that cliffhanger left me emotionally distressed, and I am counting the minutes until I can get my hands on book two.

Broken Souls & Bones is available RIGHT MEOW at your favorite bookseller.

And even though it’s a bummer that it’s not on Kindle Unlimited, this cover is gorgeous enough to make the purchase well worth it 😍